The flu outbreak in Louisiana that was already bad, is becoming even more widespread and just in time for the Holidays. Dr. Frank Welch, medical director of the Louisiana Office of Public Health, says this is one of the worst seasons for influenza he has ever seen…

cut 10 (08) “in the thick of it”

Welch says one of the reasons we’re seeing such a bad outbreak this season is because the strain H3N2 is what’s going around and it’s not covered in this year’s flu shot.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says the Bayou State is in for a round of severe weather today. He says a cold front is tracking across Louisiana and rainfall could range from under a quarter inch in the northwest portion of the state, to up over three inches in southeast Louisiana…

cut 4 (10) “their billing”

Keim says the good news is that all of this nasty weather will be out of the way for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

According to the American Automobile Association, a record 98.6 million Americans will hit the road during the year-end holiday period. AAA spokesman Don Redman says that’s a four-percent increase from last year…

cut 7 (09) “Christmas/New Year’s holiday”

The year-end holiday period is defined as today through Sunday, January 4th. Redman says this uptick in travel can be attributed to increasing disposable income and consumer confidence because of lower gas prices.